Ssssssso cute!

Another completed Christmas present! This one is for my son:

It's the Wiggly Worm Scarf (but we'll be calling it his Snake Scarf, just because) from the Knit Knack Kit. I've had this kit for quite some time and have made a few things, but this will be one of my favorites to give. I really like that the patterns are printed on individual cards, which makes it easy on the shoulders to tote the project here and there. I'm just a wimp. :) But, truly, the projects are very cute and easy.

I still have several gifts to finish...hoping I can get it all done! I do enjoy making things for others. While my excuse for making so many presents this year is that we have a tight budget, handmade is not always cheaper. However, it is much more enjoyable to use some of the pretty materials I have on hand and sit with a cup of tea than to fight the masses at the mall. It's also satisfying to have something completed that I made with my own two hands. I don't always feel that I've accomplished something at the end of the day, even though I know that being a stay-at-home-mom is important for my family. Do you know what I mean?

Anyway, I should get back to stitching. Please share any handmade gifting that you are up to! I'd love to hear!

Finished!

And it's done! Hopefully my daughter will enjoy wearing this scarf as much as I did making it. It was super easy and a quick work-up. If you are interested, the pattern for the Filippi Scarf is in One Skein Wonders. I may even make one up for myself...in more subdued tones of course. But the bright and happy of this version suits my daughter's personality well.

Tomorrow I'm attending the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo with Mom. It's at a new location this year, so I'm excited to see how they've changed it. I love to go to events like these to get ideas and inspiration. I was hoping to attend some classes this year, but it wasn't in the cards. Maybe next year. :)

Off to make some bears!

Plodding through.

This morning, it's technically still morning, I've been trying to work on a few things while I'm home with my sick little boy. First, a Christmas gift for my daughter from One Skein Wonders. I've been wanting to try some of the patterns from this book for a while and had some leftover yarn from her hat, so she's getting a matching scarf. :) Knitting is always nice while snuggled up with my little guy.

I also drafted a pattern for a project for my daughter's Brownie Troop. They are putting together shoe boxes of goodies for Operation Christmas Child. This is something I've wanted to participate in for some time now. So, we're making 15 little stuffed creatures that some children will get to snuggle and love on. I've just drawn up the pattern and picked out fabric from my stash. My daughter will help me sew, embellish and stuff!

See you Friday!

Getting things done.

It's been a busy week! Although I was sick for most of it and had to cancel all of my scheduled activities, I was able to get quite a few things finished. I got my quilt washed and placed in my little corner of heaven, also known as "the sun room":

You might notice an in-progress project on the sofa, which I also completed:

My daughter designed the hat herself. I was merely the factory. :)

I also repurposed a Halloween costume that I opted to forego this year:

The above was going to be fashioned into a pig nose (made with scraps from a hat that I made for my niece last year) which I would have paired with a set of my daughter's fairy wings. I thought it would have been hilarious, if slightly inappropriate, to be "swine flu" for the youth group bonfire. However, one of my son's classmates was hospitalized with H1N1 last week and it suddenly didn't seem so funny anymore. So I ditched the costume. And the snout became a cute little crocheted silk/cashmere dish of sorts. I'm not sure what I will do with it yet. Any ideas?

Have a great weekend!

(Edit: I'm having trouble centering the last two photos in the new editor. Anyone else having this difficulty???)